Bait question? legal or not?

[PA BEN]

Is it legal to use trout for bait? Can't find anything in the regs on this. I've never sturgeon fished and thought it would make good bait? The guy behind the counter at North 40 said a game warden said he would write you a ticket for using it. He also said walleye would be illegal too. I do know some wardens don't know what they are talking about sometimes.

[KFhunter]

Whole fish or just the guts/heads?

[vandeman17]

Not an expert but I can't see how it would be any different than using other fish as cut bait.

[bearpaw]

I think the regs prohibit using the edible portions of any game fish. Check the regs or call WDFW to be sure!

[PA BEN]

I think the regs prohibit using the edible portions of any game fish. Check the regs or call WDFW to be sure!

I've combed through the regs and can't find an answer, also the game warden said walleye bellies would be illegal too. I thought I would ask here before I emailed wdfw.

[PA BEN]

The only thing I see in the regs would be possession limit or possession in general. You have to have your own fish or have the info of the one who caught it in your possession.

[Mfowl]

I think the regs prohibit using the edible portions of any game fish. Check the regs or call WDFW to be sure!

I believe it is illegal to use gamefish for bait, or any purpose but eating. Other fish like shad, carp, pikeminnows etc are not considered gamefish.

[PA BEN]

I think the regs prohibit using the edible portions of any game fish. Check the regs or call WDFW to be sure!

I believe it is illegal to use gamefish for bait, or any purpose but eating. Other fish like shad, carp, pikeminnows etc are not considered gamefish.

It would be nice if someone would point it out in the regs. I can't find it. According to your statement sturgeon can be used for bait.
Game Fish Includes bass, burbot (freshwater
ling), catfish, crappie, grayling, northern
pikeminnow, peamouth chub, yellow perch,
tiger muskie, sucker, sunfish, grass carp,
trout (including steelhead, kokanee, and Dolly
Varden/bull trout), landlocked salmon  (Chinook,
coho or Atlantic), walleye, and whitefish.

Food Fish Includes forage fish, halibut,
bottomfish, common carp, shad, tuna, mackerel,
salmon, and sturgeon.

[bearpaw]

I may have been wrong, I can't find it even mentioned in the regs, not sure what to advise other than calling F&G!

[Mfowl]

Here is an excerpt from another forum discussing this. Read into it what you will. Otherwise consult an attorney, that seems to be what the fishing regs require anymore.


G-Man wrote:
There used to be a line in the regulations that said you couldn't use gamefish for bait. That reg disappeared a long time ago and today any fish you catch can be used as bait. The only issue is with using bait in fresh water, then you need to abide by the following:
It is unlawful to possess or use live aquatic animals as bait, except:
1. Live aquatic animals (other than fish) collected from the water being fished.
2. Live sand shrimp.
3. Live forage fish in the Columbia River downstream of the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line.

Also, in the statewide rules there is this statement under "You May Not":
Transport live fish without a permit.


Actually, the old rule said that you could not use "live fish for gamefish bait"; it did not say "you cannot use gamefish for bait."

Dead gamefish has always been legal for bait, and it still is. I could go to Costco and buy a pack of rainbow trout, and use them for ling cod bait, crab bait, crawdad bait etc. If gamefish was really illegal to use as bait, then nobody can use steelhead eggs for river fishing for salmon/steelhead; it would be illegal to use steelhead/trout/bass heads/carcasses/guts for crab bait, etc. That is just not the case.

For the guy that got a ticket for using a trout for ling bait, the ticket was probably for some other reason, like a barbed hook, out of season, no license, etc.

The prohibition on live fish for bait was/is a freshwater rule. The state does not want people fishing with live minnows, and then dumping the bucket of bait into the lake after they are done fishing.

With saltwater fishing, you could always use (and can still legally use) live fish for bait. That live fish was/is taken out of the Sound, and would otherwise still be swimming in the Sound whether impaled on a hook, not yet caught for bait, or dumped

[Stein]

It's legal in WA, not in AK if I remember right up there.  You can use trout, salmon, whatever for bait.  In the rare event I get too much salmon and it freezer burns over the winter I use the few pieces for crab bait.

Both work good for hali as well.

If it's not specifically mentioned as illegal, then it is legal.

[PA BEN]

 



Question to teamspokane:
Is it legal to use game fish for bait? If it is not could you provide the rule on this. I've combed through the fishing regulations and can't find where it would be illegal to do so.

Answer from WDFW

Team Spokane (DFW) <teamspokane@dfw.wa.gov>   

 Jun 12 at 11:04 PM 


You can use it, it just can’t be “live”.  Cut up herring , trout etc. are okay to use.

 

Thanks for checking!

Teamspokane@dfw.wa.gov